Welcome back to this weekly feature at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment!
For this weeks list, I decided to go with a sub-genre of films that has always fascinated me. I am a junkie when it comes to reading about and watching documentaries about true crime and real life serial killers, I find that the truth tends to be more frightening than fiction. But there are those films that disturb and frighten me as much as the actual thing. Now there are a few here based around actual killers, and trust me when I saw no matter how disturbing these films may be, the truth is even more so …
5.) MANHUNTER (1986)
Yes Silence Of The Lambs is known as the definitive Hannibal Lector film, but Manhunter has always had a place with me. I do love this film, it is the very first one to feature the cannibal (played by Brian Cox here) and it still manages to disturb me and scare me. The reason for that is Tom Noonan’s truly disturbing and frightening performance as family serial killer Francis Dollarhyde. He remains one of the only characters in film to ever scare and disturb me to my core. I still can’t watch this without getting that feeling, this is a great film and a genuinely disturbing one.
4.) THE UGLY (1997)
It was only recently (last few years) that I discovered this gem from New Zealand. What an incredible and unique film, and deep down it scares me! The main character here Simon (Paolo Rotondo) seems like a normal enough guy, he’s good looking, charming, yet he kills people in vicious ways. Killers are people we see as deranged individuals, ones you can just tell are monsters. What is truly terrifying about Simon is he reminds you that in 99% of cases that isn’t so, killers and serial killers generally look like your next door neighbour. After I watched this I had a difficult time trusting anyone, it had such a strong impact on me and it isn’t an easy one to re-watch as fantastic as the film is.
3.) SE7EN (1995)
Se7en is messed up! The serial killer here John Doe (if you’ve seen it you know who plays him, this is actually a spoiler to reveal his casting so I wont) kills in some pretty sick ways and his MO is that of the seven deadly sins, with each victim representing one of the sins. It is the crimes he commits and once revealed his calm demeanor and soft spokeness that scare me and disturb me. Again this is a normal looking person, who does such horrendous crimes. He believes in what he does, it is a strength, he truly frightens me and this film is never an easy watch because of that.
2.) SNOWTOWN (2011)
A fairly recent addition to the based on a real like serial killer sub-genre, this film is based on events that happened pretty close to where I lived at the time. I mean it wasn’t a far drive, and the street where these acts were committed was a street we drove passed often (goodness knows if we drove passed when someone was getting murdered, I can’t even think about it). John Bunting (Daniel Henshaw) was the leader of this group, in an area that suffered unemployment and poverty it was easy to get the group under his control. He killed people in absolute vicious ways, wound up storing the bodies in barrels with acid and their final dumping place was an empty bank vault in Snowtown. The film does a pretty spot on job of portraying all of these things, the area where he lived, where they killed people, and how they killed people and later collected their social security money. Watching this unfold disturbs me to no end, anything relating to this case does and I have trouble getting it out of my mind. It happened so close and the acts were unspeakable. The film is raw and honest and it never becomes an exploitation piece. (You can read my full review HERE and interview with the director HERE)
1.) HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986)
This was one of the first serial killer films to disturb and affect me deeply, and as I mentioned with The Ugly it comes down to the main character of Henry (loosely based off Henry Lee Lucas portrayed by Michael Rooker). His character is a monster, yet he doesn’t look like one and there are times where you can truly sympathise with him and almost feel strong enough that you’d take him on board as a friend. This realisation upon that first watched freaked me out, I didn’t want to feel that way about someone I could clearly see was a killer. But he disguised himself well, and this is where that mentality comes into play, these killers could be the person next door. He really is that type of person until that killer is let out. This is a very raw and confronting film, it will test your limits and like me you will feel disturbed by the feelings you get and certainly don’t want for his character. While this film really does a number on me, I can manage to watch it every so often, I am not even sure why that is.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
With the Oscars having been and gone for another year, I got to thinking about some of the snubs from this awards show. While those nominated were worth while, there are those who generally lose out. But what about those who always seem to? There was a lot of excitement for Gary Oldman’s nomination, after all these years! The man surely should have been nominated a good 10 years ago, but the fact remains he got it. So let’s explore those actors who haven’t gotten it and for the role/s they should have gotten it for.
Honourable Mention – Bruce Greenwood
I couldn’t have a list without at least mentioning this incredibly talented actor. He has been in some great films and given some truly powerful performances. Another one always over looked, maybe one day? Personally, I’d have given him awards for Exotica and Meek’s Cutoff, that’s right given him not just a nomination! He has done great work, and if you haven’t yet discovered his greatness imdb the man and start watching!
5.) Guy Pearce
This brilliant Australian actor has been around for a good 20+ years, making his mark in films such as The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and L.A. Confidential. I have always been a fan, but I felt his true talents shined in a career best turn in Christopher Nolan’s Memento. This was a challenging role, and he nailed it perfectly. His character who could form no short term memories, had to do what he could to remember things, no easy task. This film and this performance remain a favourite of mine, and I really can’t believe how fantastic he was in this and not really get recognised for it. Sure he may have followed this up with some questionable choices, but he bounced right back with the fantastic acting in The Proposition.
4.) Val Kilmer
I could have sworn Val Kilmer had been nominated for something during those earlier years, but sadly no. His turn in Oliver Stone’s The Doors as Jim Morrison was quite unbelievable. He transformed into the man completely, in every sense of the worth. This wasn’t an imitation, this was a performance, a captivating and moving one. Dare I say one of the best around for biopics over the past 25 years? I do dare say it, and I mean it! This is a truly amazing performance, his best next to Doc Holiday in Tombstone, another role he surely should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor that year. In a perfect world he’d be a two time nominee at least.
3.) Kyle MacLachlan
No here I am not going to suggest he should have been nominated for Showgirls – ha. But I do think that Kyle MacLachlan is one of the truly underrated actors working today, he has been in some fantastic films and given some incredible performances. My personal favourite (aside from his TV work) is that of Jeffrey in Blue Velvet. He carried his own with the likes if Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and Dennis Hopper, his performance was well rounded and a difficult one to pull off. He needed to be engaging and raw, and he did that. I’d even say, his turn in 2000′s Hamlet was fantastic and one that gets over looked. For every poor choice he’s made, there are other choices he’s made that are truly satisfying and award worthy.
2.) Alan Rickman
A lot of people were expecting that perhaps Alan Rickman would receive a nomination for his turn as Severus Snape in the final chapter of Harry Potter. Sadly this did not happen, and once again this fantastic and talented actor was snubbed. He delivers time and again with his work, and I honestly can’t understand why he’s always over looked. My vote for a nomination would be for one of his earlier roles as Jamie in Anthony Minghella’s Truly, Madly, Deeply. He plays a man who dies, and comes back as a ghost to be with his girlfriend. It sounds familiar doesn’t it, but this is quite a lot different than that other film, and I think it has a lot of emotion and meaning, more so than the other. The performance is simply stunning, his performance brought me to tears and I was so moved. Another case of an actor who has been subbed by the Academy …
1.) Kurt Russell
I am sure for those of you who know me, this entry will come as no surprise. Kurt Russell for me is one of the reasons why I actually become the fan of cinema that I am. From Tango & Cash to Backdraft to Big Trouble In Little China, I watched everything he was in and I enjoyed the heck out of them. Here was a guy who could act, was easy on the guys and was such a charismatic person who could take on any role. He immersed himself in his performances no matter, what they were. A prime example is his portrayal of Elvis, it simply wasn’t an imitation it was an actual performance and embodiment of the man. Russell has always been strong, with everything he does, no matter how silly it may be. He has given us some truly strong and fantastic performances during his long and simply stunning career, but not even an Oscar nomination. My pick for that accolade would fall with his performance as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone. That year Kurt and Val should have hit the double whammy and both been nominated for their performances. Then you also have such great turns from him in Silkwood, The Thing and even Vanilla Sky that could be considered worthy. Kurt Russell is deserving, and it is sad to see he has never received the recognition he so deserves.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
David Lynch is without a doubt my favourite director of all time, there is just something about the man and his works that hit on a level like no other. I always go back and explore his films, the strange worlds he creates and the incredibly messed up characters. Perhaps the most memorable of those characters are the females, all as different as the next, with such haunting qualities about them. So for this week I thought I would delve right into that world …
5.) Renee Madison/Alice Wakefield (Patricia Arquette) Lost Highway (1997)
Lost Highway is an odd film, yes that isn’t saying much coming from Lynch. This feels darker than some of his others, and certainly not an easy one to sit through. Perhaps the most haunting thing about this film is the dual role from Patricia Arquette as Renee and Alice. This might just be her best performance, and without it the film wouldn’t be the same.
4.) Nikki Grace/Susan Blue (Laura Dern) Inland Empire (2006)
Another dual role, from Lynch’s muse Laura Dern. This could be her crowning achievement, as the struggling older actress and the character she is meant to be playing. The lines between reality and fantasy are blurred in this nightmarish world. This film stuck with me for a long time after I saw it, mostly thanks to this performance and the characters she played.
3.) Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn (Naomi Watts) Mulholland Dr. (2001)
The duality of this role doesn’t come into play well over half way through, and for a lot of the film we’re with Betty. She’s this innocent and gorgeous creature, but then she turns into something completely different. This is the role that really put Naomi Watts on the Hollywood map, with two characters that are incredibly heartbreaking and haunting.
2.) Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) Twin Peaks (1990), Fire Walk With Me (1992)
“She’s dead, wrapped in plastic.” it was these haunting words that began one of the strangest TV series of the past 40 years. Laura Palmer was at the center of it all, who was she and why would someone kill such a beautiful creature? The mystery kept audiences guessing, and when the show came to an abrupt end, her story was told in the prequel film and her full tragedy and heartache was revealed.
1.) Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) Blue Velvet (1986)
For those that know me, this one will come as no surprise. Blue Velvet is in my Top 5 Favourite Films of All Time list, and Dorothy Vallens certainly remains one of the most memorable characters to appear on film (next to Dennis Hopper’s Frank Booth). Her character is a mystery, a beauty, full of heartbreak and tragedy. She’s a tortured soul, with something about her that just attracts people towards her, she’s the ultimate haunting Lynch female character.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
With my column over at Arrow In The Head ‘Dissecting The Director’ I get to spent a lot of time watching a director’s entire filmography. A good number of them have done Stephen King adaptations, and while they tend to have this reputation as being bad, I actually discovered that there are quite a few hidden gems. I have probably seen a majority of these adaptations, so here are my picks for ones that aren’t bad, but are quite good and enjoyable films …
5.) THE DARK HALF (1993)
This is a really solid film, and I really liked the pairing of George Romero and Stephen King. This is criminally under seen, it is well written, directed and acted, it has an interesting atmosphere and a great mystery. Timothy Hutton gives an amazing performance, if you can find it, I’d highly recommend it.
4.) DOLORES CLAIBORNE (1995)
This is another under seen gem, and one I discovered on VHS. I picked it up because it starred Jennifer Jason Leigh and Katy Bates, I wasn’t aware it was based on something by Stephen King until I started watching it. It moved me deeply when I first saw it, and I often think back to it now. A powerful film, with some truly amazing performances.
3.) THINNER (1996)
This is a film I have a blast with, it is actually a lot of fun! I really enjoy the premise and the message behind it, plus the performance by Robert John Burke is really solid and he managed to make something so silly really work. A good little gem, and under rated in my opinion.
2.) GRAVEYARD SHIFT (1990)
I ended up watching this film due to the Blood, Bullet’s and Broads boys Ammon and Eric constantly talking about it. It wasn’t a let down, I had such a blast with this film, it was fun, it had a neat story and I enjoyed every second of it. The premise is a little on the thin side but with a short running time you hardly notice.
1.) HEARTS IN ATLANTIS (2001)
From the first moment I saw this, to the subsequent rewatches, I really fell in love with it. It is such an intriguing film, and something quite different from what you’d expect from a King adaptation. Anthony Hopkins was fantastic, and this was one of his lighter performances, he didn’t chew the scenery. Also this was one of Anton Yelchin’s first film roles, and it was obvious from this that he was going to grow up to be something special.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
While I have been recovering from some injuries, I’ve been watching some martial arts films. This got me thinking, what are five random martial arts films I’d recommend? Especially to people who may not be that familiar with genre, I’ve come up the following …
5.) THE KING OF THE KICKBOXERS (1990)
This is such a great film, it is a lot of fun to watch and by golly does it have some of the best martial arts you’ll see. The choreography is amazing, the final battle between my pal Loren Avedon and Billy Blanks is one for the books. I’ve seen this countless times, a great ride!
4.) WHEELS ON MEALS (1984)
A little gem from the year of my birth, this was directed by the absolutely fantastic Sammo Hung, who also stars with Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. Memorable for Keith Vitali and of course the fantastic fight scene with Benny Urquidez which you can see above.
3.) UNDISPUTED II: LAST MAN STANDING
If you know me, you know I worship this film! I love everything about it, Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins light up the screen! The choreography is amazing, of course done by the man J.J. Perry! It looks fantastic and it is fantastically shot and directed by Isaac Florentine!
2.) REVENGE OF THE NINJA (1983)
I wasn’t going to have a martial arts list without the legendary Shô Kosugi! He is simply outstanding and I just love watching him do his thing. While Revenge Of The Ninja might be an odd film, the martial arts on display are top notch and well worth watching. Also another film featuring Keith Vitali!
1.) THE WAY OF THE DRAGON – MENG LONG GUO JIANG (1972)
I am sure it was expected I’d place Bruce Lee’s most famous film Enter The Dragon on the list, but I decided to pick another film of his. Perhaps this is best remembered for the legendary show down between Bruce and one Chuck Norris, but the film itself is a great ride and yet another reason why Bruce was such an amazing man.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
For research with my bi-weekly Dissecting The Director column over at Arrow In The Head, I decided to re-watch and seek out a bunch of film/horror related documentaries. This led to me watching a bunch of doco’s in general, but for this weeks Super Five I decided to focus on the the horror related ones. There are a lot of fluff pieces out there when it comes to the genre, but the following five are ones I found actually delved into the subject and weren’t afraid to get down and dirty with it. Highly recommended for fans and non-fans alike.
5.) FLESH AND BLOOD: THE HAMMER HERITAGE OF HORROR (1994)
I am a bit of a noob when it comes to Hammer Horror, and this is something I want to change. Keep your eyes peeled on the site for a new feature, but back to business, I was curious about Hammer and this film came recommended to me by A.J. Hakari a good friend and podcast guest. I trust his recommendations when it comes to matters such as these, and he wasn’t wrong. Sure this is an old documentary but they do cover a lot of ground, from its inception to its last days, it goes over everything you need to know about Hammer. It is thorough, narrated by Christopher Lee with a lot of great and entertaining interviews, I especially liked the Peter Cushing stuff. New to Hammer or if you are a seasoned veteran of their films, this is a great watch.
4.) AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE (2010)
Now this one covers more than just horror, but a majority of it falls into the category. American Grindhouse is about films that I really enjoy, exploitation pieces. I can’t really explain my love for them, but this film kind of shows why and it really takes a look at its long history and development over the years. The interviews are great, the films covered are very much worthy and they go over so many sub-genres and ones you might not have even thought of. Its fun, its informative, it is great for Grindhouse/Exploitation fans and a good place to start if you are keen to get into them.
3.) NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN HORROR FILM (2009)
This is a fun film, narrated by Lance Henriksen, this goes through the history of horror in America. From the early days with Universal horror, to the likes of Night Of The Living Dead and Halloween it goes over all the fazes and crazes, the films that made an impact and the ones that didn’t quite get there. It shows a lot of interesting things, talks to some great names and really gives the audience a love and understanding of the genre. This is more for people who might not be too familiar with the genre as a whole but fans will get a lot out of it as well.
2.) GOING TO PIECES: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SLASHER FILM (2006)
I absolutely love this doco, the slasher sub-genre is where I really first took notice of horror and it was films like Scream, Halloween, A Nightmare On Elm Street that really got my juices flowing as young kid. I owe a lot to these films, they really shaped who I am as a horror fiend. This is so informative, the interviews are very frank and everyone is open about the subjects. I really loved the censorship stuff, and Felissa Rose really gets a great point across and I certainly share her feelings. Could not have asked for a better look at this sub-genre, made by fans for fans, a truly awesome piece.
1.) THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (2000)
My good buddy Jason Bene recommended this one, I hadn’t heard about it and I wasn’t sure what to expect. This is a fantastic piece, it really is, it takes on a different look and way of thinking with horror films. It covers the films from the likes of Romero, Carpenter, Landis, Craven, Hooper, Savini; you know the usual suspects who emerged from the 60′s and 70′s. It shows these films in light with the events that were happening at the time, and motivations behind the films were revealed. I especially found it fascinating to hear Savini talk about his time in Vietnam and how it inspired him to do what he has become famous for. If you can track this down it is well worth the ride, it is well made and expressed and there is nothing quite like it out there.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
Jeremy Renner has had his stock lifted in recent years with The Hurt Locker, and he’s been working hard ever since. His supporting role in The Town gained him more recognition and he can now be seen in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. This list doesn’t include some of his more well known film, as I want to bring to light some of the films he’s been in which may have gone under the radar. He’s a talented actor and more should be checking out his earlier works.
5.) TAKE
Take is an interesting film, a depressing one but still worth a watch. Renner plays a gambling addict who we first see in prison. It is obvious something terrible put him there and the film unwinds to show us what happened. It runs parallel to a storyline involving a woman played by Minnie Driver and it becomes apparent that there is a connection between the two.
4.) NEO NED
This is a very quirky and offbeat film, which sees Renner as a Neo Nazi and in psychiatric care. He then falls for a young African American woman who believes she is Hitler. Yes that premise alone should peak interesting, it is a fun and engaging film with great performances all round.
3.) 12 AND HOLDING
This film sees Renner take a supporting role, the real stars here are the young kids whose story this is. Renner turns up in the life of one of the main kids, a 12 year old girl who gets a crush on him. He is a patient of her mothers and she tries everything she can to get his attention. His sad story is quite gripping and he has one of the best and saddest roles in the film.
2.) A LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN
This is a strange film, a drama/thriller which focuses on an insurance policy and a person who may or may not be dead. The main players are Julia Stiles, Forest Whitaker and Renner. For Renner this is a much different role and a little more on the darker side. There is no sympathizing with him here, and he gives one hell of a great performance.
1.) DAHMER
This might be my favourite film and performance on this list from Renner, where he plays Jeffrey Dahmer. This is perhaps one of the best low budget serial killer films. A lot of these direct to DVD efforts are pretty terrible and not at all portraying the serial killer correctly or doing any justice to the victims. This shows Dahmer in a different way, and tries to shed a little light on what made him a killer. This is a brave and powerful film with an amazing performance from Renner who really disappears into the role.
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